The costs of better nutrition an issue for school districts

The goal of the Healthy Kids Act, implemented in 2010 at schools across the country, is to improve the health of students by feeding them a healthier diet with more fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as other dietary changes like less salt, sugar and fats.

But, according to Todd Lettow, the superintendent at Hampton-Dumont Community School District, those changes – mandated by federal law – are more expensive than the old menus schools usually used and could lead to higher meal prices in the future.

"When you have to comply with those rules, the costs do go up," Lettow said of the Healthy Kids Act. "There's no doubt that when you buy more fresh fruits and vegetables that the costs go up because they're more expensive. Wheat bread costs more than white bread."